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Austin&Peter
Writing1120
ProfessorFuller
November24th,2015
DeathWithDignity
ManypeoplemaybewonderingwhatthetermDeathwithdignitytrulymeans.For
furtherclarification,deathwithdignityisatermusedforpersonswhoaresufferingandwishto
dieontheirownterms,thus,selectingeuthanasia.Deathwithdignitylawsallowthosewhoare
mentallycompetent,adultstateresidents,andsufferingfromaterminalillnesswithaprognosis
of6orfewermonthstolivethealternativetohavealethalinjection.Thesepatientsthenrequest
aprescriptionmedicationtoadvancetheinevitable,imminentdeath.
However,thedeathwithdignityprocessisalotmorecomplexandsocially,anunethical
procedurecompletedbylicensedphysicians.Deathwithdignityisdeterminedbytwoboard
licensedphysicians,andthepatientmustqualifyforalethalinjection.Thesearedoneona
casebycasebasis,andonlyin5stateshasitbeenpassedinlegislature.Inthesestates,itis
mandatorythat2physiciansmustconfirmthepatient'sdiagnosis,prognosis,mentalcompetence,
andthewillingnessofthepatientintermsoftherequest.Oncearequestforeuthanasiahasbeen
made,twowaitingperiodsfollow.Thereisaperiodbetweentheoralrequestofprescription
medication,andonebetweenreceivingandfillingtheprescription.Duringthesewaitingperiods,
asecondoralrequestmustbemadetoaphysicianandthenawrittenrequestfordocumentation.
Topreventfromanyformofpersuasiontooccurduringtheseprocesses,safeguardsareputinto

placetoensurethatpatientsareprotected.Thisprocessmayseemfairlystraightforward,yet,this
isanincrediblygreytopicandiswidelycontroversialonaglobalscale.
Ononeendofthespectrum,assistedsuicideisbeneficialtothosewithaprognosisof6
monthsoflifeleftoranythingless.Inmanyinstances,assistedsuicide,inmyopinion,is
acceptableasitendssufferingforapersonandallowsthemtohaveadeathwithdignity.
Someotherprosofassistedsuicidearethatitendsthepatientssuffering,healthcostswouldbe
significantlydecreased,vitalorganscanbesaved,anditwouldfreeuproomandattentionfor
otherpatients.Allowingapersontodieontheirownterms,peacefully,iseasiertocopewithfor
manyfamiliesandhaslessofastrainandburdenoveraperiodoftime.
Onthepolaroppositeendofthespectrum,peopleareopposedtoassistedsuicidebecause
itisconsideredmorallyandfundamentallywrong.Theaidinthedeathprocessisconsideredto
violatetheHippocraticOath.Thisoathstatesthatthereareobligationsandconductthatmustbe
takenbythosewhoareabouttopursuemedicalpractices.Assistedsuicideviolatescertain
portionsofthisoath.InstancesthatoccurredintheNetherlandsovera30yearduration,shifted
fromeuthanizingthosewhowereterminallyilltothosewhohadmentalillnesses.Currentlyin
theNetherlands,ifapersonisovertheageof70andissatisfiedwiththeirlifeortiredofliving,
theycanrequestandreceiveaprescriptionforalethaldosagetoendtheirlife.Thisis
fundamentallyandsociallyconsideredwrongasthereisnothinglifethreateninglywrongwith
manypatientswhoreceivetheprescriptionintheNetherlands.Itisalsoconsideredtobemorally
wrongbecauseitgoesagainstthehumannatureofkeepingtheonesweloveandcareabout
alive.Formanypeople,itishardtoletgoandacceptthefactofimmanantdeathofsomeone
close.Itisadoctorsjobtomakesurethepatientisgettingthebesttreatmentpossibletobetter

theirstateofwellbeingandwhentheideaofeuthanasiaisbroughtup,someviewitasalazy
wayofdealingpatientsthatarehardtotreat.
Eventhoughbothoftheargumentsofassistedsuicidearestrong,therearemanypeople
thatareratherindifferentonthetopicunlessundercertaincircumstances.Inmyopinion,
nationallylegalizingassistedsuicidewouldbebadbecauseitwouldinfluencealotofpeople
whoarenotontheirdeathbedtoexploretheoptionduetodepressionandothersituationsand
medicalreasons.Ido,however,believethatifthereisnowayapatientshealthcanbe
revitalized,thenitwouldbeappropriatetoconsidereuthanasia.Theproblemwithmypersonal
opinionisthatitwouldbeextremelyhardandtimeconsumingtolegalizeitforcertain
circumstancesinawaythatwouldbelawful.
Inall,bothoftheargumentsforandagainstassistedsuicideareverystronganditisan
issuethatshouldbemagnifiedinordertofindaresolution.Everybodyshouldbeabletodiewith
dignity,itisjustaquestionofhowappropriateandnaturalthewaytheydieis.Itisvery
importanttoapproachtheresolutionofassistedsuicidewithlegalandlawfulprecautions.
Therefore,thereisnodoubtthatdeathwithdignityshouldbetakenseriously.